Conservation and protection of Florida's scenic beauty should be a top priority for homeowners unless we want our home values to plummet as the state becomes billboard central. I don't think any Florida homeowner desires their neighborhood to look like Time Square in New York City full of advertisements as far as the eye can see.

The Conservation and Protection Initiative: Florida's Billboard Amendment is a good thing for homeowners as it restricts intrusive billboards and protects trees on public property from being removed or altered to enhance billboard visibility. Our environment and natural beauty should be prioritized over the visibility of billboards, many of which don't advertise wholesome things anyhow. Strip clubs, ambulance chasing attorneys, and annoying messages don't need to be spread out across our cities and towns by billboards. Let them find other ways to generate business without destroying the natural beauty of our neighborhoods and streets.

Article II, Section 7, shall be voted upon in the 2008 general elections in Florida. This bill will provide local governments with greater home rule authority to require billboard removal. Where just compensation for billboard removal is necessary, this bill places a ceiling into effect except where greater amount required by federal law or federal constitution.

Most importantly and something that should have been put in place a long time ago is this bill prohibits new billboard construction along any public street or highway. It sure would be nice to have our streets and highways back free from billboards full of annoying advertisements and graffiti. No billboards means no graffiti to spray on them. Imagine if society went back to good old fashion word of mouth advertisement. Life would be more relaxing, business relationships more cordial, and our cities more beautiful.  

Paul Davis is Central Florida's favorite and most reputable property appraiser frequently called upon by banks, homeowners, and savvy real estate investors to assess property values. A builder for over twenty years and also a real estate broker, Paul Davis brings a wealth of knowledge to the table as an appraiser.



Paul's company Midstate Appraisals serves Central Florida (Lake, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Sumter and Davenport in Polk counties).



Contact Paul Davis and Midstate Appraisals for your next appraisal:



Office: 352-242-9973



Cell: 352-636-6672



Fax: 352-242-4912



midstateappraisals@earthlink.net



www.midstateappraisals.org